European Union — EU Blue Card

The EU Blue Card is the flagship long-term work & residence permit for highly skilled non-EU nationals (no cap/lottery). It’s issued by individual Member States under a common Directive and provides a pathway to long-term residence and intra-EU mobility.

Authoritative overview & national links: European Commission — EU Blue Card, plus Germany’s official portal: Make it in Germany.

Eligibility (high level)

• Recognized degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Signed job offer/contract in an EU country at or above that country’s Blue Card salary threshold (varies by state and occupation). See the Commission page for national links.
• Health insurance & clean record as required by national law.

Step-by-step

1. Secure a qualifying offer (check national salary threshold via EC portal).
2. Prepare documents: passport, degree/experience proof (with apostille/translation if required), contract, insurance.
3. Apply at the embassy/consulate or in-country immigration office (depends on your status).
4. Decision & entry: collect visa and, on arrival, register address and collect residence card.

Processing Typical 6–12 weeks depending on Member State; many publish a statutory 90-day limit. Difficulty Predictable if you meet criteria; no quota. Fees ~€100–€140 (varies by state).

Economic snapshot (indicative)

• Salary (Germany, software engineer): see market reports (e.g., Berlin ~€68–75k mid-level) and government context; validate with employer and local data. Sources: Make it in Germany, acework 2024 survey.
• Cost of living (Berlin): Numbeo index & baskets; Berlin ~30% cheaper than NYC (ex-rent); see live dataset: Numbeo Berlin / index tables: global rankings.

United Kingdom — Skilled Worker Visa

Employer-sponsored, points-based route with no annual cap; widely used across UK tech & research. Core requirements: licensed sponsor, eligible occupation code, English ability, and salary meeting the current thresholds/going-rate rules.

Primary source: GOV.UK — Skilled Worker visa and sponsor/threshold guidance (latest policy updates): caseworker guidance.

Step-by-step

1. Get an offer from a licensed sponsor; confirm occupation code & salary meet current rules on GOV.UK.
2. Employer issues a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
3. Submit online application, biometrics (or app), pay visa fee + Immigration Health Surcharge.
4. Decision & entry; collect BRP or use eVisa on arrival; start work.

Processing Overseas applications commonly ~3 weeks (priority options available). Difficulty High approval if criteria met; no lottery. Fees Visa fee depends on length; plus IHS (per-year) — see fee tables on GOV.UK.

Economic snapshot (indicative)

• Salary (UK software engineer): market varies by city; use ONS and sector stats for context. Sources: ONS ASHE 2024; policy note on going-rate update to median: Fragomen analysis.
• Cost of living (London): live dataset & basket examples: Numbeo London (London often ~10–20% below NYC ex-rent; see live index pages).

Australia — Skills in Demand (subclass 482) & PR pathways

Australia replaced the legacy TSS with the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) in late 2024, retaining employer sponsorship but adding clearer PR pathways and streamlined streams. Independent points-tested PR (subclass 189/190) remains available in parallel.

Official: Department of Home Affairs — Skills in Demand (482). Transition note: TSS closure/transition.

Step-by-step (employer-sponsored 482)

1. Secure an offer in an eligible occupation; confirm salary ≥ current threshold for the stream.
2. Employer nomination (approved sponsor; pays SAF levy) → you file visa application (health/character, English, skills evidence).
3. Processing (varies by stream; high-salary specialist stream is prioritised) → visa grant (2–4 years typical).
4. Transition to PR via employer nomination (ENS 186) or other PR pathways per updated rules.

Processing Weeks to a few months; priority for specialist stream. Difficulty Predictable with sponsorship; no lottery. Fees Applicant visa fee per stream; employer pays SAF levy — see Home Affairs fee tables.

Economic snapshot (indicative)

• Salary (software engineer): A$110k–A$130k typical advertised range nationwide (Seek data): SEEK salary dashboard.
• Cost of living (Sydney): live dataset: Numbeo Sydney; macro wages context: Reuters wage growth.

Japan — Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) Visa

Points-based fast-track for advanced tech/research talent. With ≥70 points you obtain a 5-year status and accelerated permanent residency (down to 1–3 years depending on score).

Official overview & CoE rule: MOFA — HSP visa. General visa hub: MOFA Visa. Universities also outline the points rubric (example): Kyoto Univ. HSP points.

Step-by-step

1. Obtain an offer in Japan (Engineer/Specialist or research role). Estimate HSP points (education, experience, salary, age, JLPT, publications).
2. Employer files Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) with HSP points sheet at Immigration Bureau.
3. After CoE approval, apply for visa at embassy/consulate (typ. 5–10 business days).
4. Arrive; receive Residence Card at airport; register address locally.

Processing CoE often a few weeks; consular issuance ~1 week. Difficulty Attainable if ≥70 points; no lottery. Fees Consular fee usually ~¥3,000–¥6,000.

Economic snapshot (indicative)

• Salary (Tokyo, international dev market): median ~¥8.5M in 2024 survey: TokyoDev survey (see also methodology & distribution).
• Cost of living (Tokyo): live dataset: Numbeo Tokyo; regional index tables: Asia rankings.